Notify me of new papers
via Email or RSS

This postprint is also in the postprint series of the following research unit(s):

• San Francisco Treatment Research Center

ABSTRACT:
Objective: To examine the predictive value of demographic characteristics and substance abuse indicators to explain treatment seeking for substance abuse problems among older male medical patients. Design: Longitudinal analysis of screening data and treatment seeking behavior. Setting: Inpatient medical and outpatient substance abuse treatment center. Participants: Participants in the study were 855 medically ill male veterans aged 55 and over, who were screened for alcohol problems during inpatient medical treatment after clinician referral. Measurements: The CAGE alcohol screen, drug use and demographic measures administered at time of screening. Predictors of treatment seeking in the sample were examined using structural equation modeling. Results: Expressed interest in treatment and later attendance at a pre-treatment evaluation were associated with younger age and a higher CAGE alcohol screening score. Being unmarried and using drugs in addition to alcohol were associated with treatment interest but not with evaluation attendance. In the path model tested, the effect of higher CAGE score partially explained the effect of younger age on treatment seeking. Conclusions: The model examined shows utility in predicting alcohol treatment seeking in this sample. Age-related factors may deter treatment seeking among older male medical inpatients.

SUGGESTED CITATION:
Derek Satre, Bob G. Knight, Elizabeth Dickson-Fuhrmann, and Lissy F. Jarvik, "Predictors of Alcohol Treatment Seeking in a Sample of Older Adults in the GET SMART Program" (2003). Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. 51, pp. 380-386. Postprint available free at: http://repositories.cdlib.org/postprints/742

REQUIRED PUBLISHER STATEMENT:
This is an electronic version of an article published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society 51:380–386, 2003.